HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES MARCH 10, 1997
CALL TO ORDER: Kevin Foley, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Kevin Foley, Chairman;William B. Duffy, Jr.;
John Leeman; Donald Stewart; David Torrisi; and Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to approve the
minutes of February 10 and the Executive Session minutes as presented in the package; vote approved 5-0.
The minutes of February 18, 1997 will be reviewed and brought back at the next meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no
discussion during this item.
ANDOVER- OSGOOD STREET IMPROVEMENTS: Bill Hmurciak, Interim Director, Division of
Public Works, met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the proposed improvements to the Andover and
Osgood Street area. Portions of these roadways are being taken over by the town from the state.
Paul Carter, of VHB, Inc. is the consultant who has been retained to assist the town with the development
of the plans. Mr. Carter presented an overview of the improvement plans to these roadways. Public
comments were taken in which some residents expressed concerns to the need for completion of sidewalks
in the entire area,the need to suppress the excessive speeds of traffic in the entire area,the need to address
the Franklin School crossing area, as well as ensuring that the work is completed in a timely manner. No
action was taken on this item. Public Works will be presenting another report at a later date.
FIRE DEPARTMENT - LEPC HAZARDOUS MATERIALS GRANT ACCEPTANCE:
William Duffy made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to accept the Local Emergency Planning
Committee Grant for the Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning in the amount of$ 3,000 for the Police
Department; vote approved 5-0.
APPROVAL OF REQUESTS TO USE PUBLIC PROPERTIES: St. Gregory Church Festival - Old
Center Common-Northeast Bicycle Club -Town Roadways -John Leeman made a motion, seconded by
Donald Stewart,to approve the following requests to use public properties; vote approved 5-0.
St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church Festival- Old Center Common-
June 29, 1997, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Northeast Bicycle Club circuit training on various roadways from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM
on Wednesday nights from April through September.
UPDATE - TOWN MANAGER REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE: Mr. Foley presented the Board of
Selectmen with a set of procedures to be utilized with the review of the Town Manager's performance. The
Chairman requested that the board review the package and provide him with more detail input for the
process. A self-assessment section was also provided and will be utilized.
FISCAL YEAR 1998 - 2002 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN: William Duffy made a motion,
seconded by David Torrisi,to accept the Town Manager's recommendations on the Capital Improvements
Plan and to send this plan to the Finance Committee for review; vote approved 5-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes Page 2.
DATES OF SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION AND THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: The
Chairman explained that after further research, Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39, Section 9,
authorizes the Board of Selectmen to change the date of the Annual Town Meeting provided that it is held
prior to June 30.
David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to set the Special Town Election for
May 6, 1997 and the Annual Town Meeting for May 12, 1997; vote approved 5-0.
SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION BALLOT DISCUSSION: The Board discussed the structuring of the
ballot to be presented to the town for the override election. David Torrisi spoke in support of one question
to include both the Thomson School and the needed funding to support the town services over three years.
John Leeman expressed support of two questions, one being a debt exclusion override request for the
Thomson School separate from a general override for the town services. Mr. Duffy spoke against a debt
exclusion override and in support of one general override question, however, if there is not support for that,
separate out all the requests into a number of questions thus allowing the voter to decide the funding of
each service. Donald Stewart spoke in support of a debt exclusion override question separate from a
general override question, per the request of the School Committee. Public comment was received on
various opinions of one or two questions, including Marilyn Doyle of the School Committee spoke a
separate debt exclusion question of the Thomson School and James Gammie of the Finance Committee
spoke in favor of one general override question which would include funding for the Thomson School.
Thomson School -Debt Exclusion Override Request-John Leeman made a motion, seconded by
Donald Stewart,to place a referendum question pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59,
Section 21 C, Clause K,to determine if the town would exempt from Proposition 2 '/2 the amount required
to pay for the bond issued in order to reconstruct and expand the Thomson School; vote approved 3-2
(David Torrisi and William Duffy opposed).
The Board then discussed the proposed budget as it relates to forming a general override question. This
discussion included the expected expense needs for the general government and the school department to
maintain certain levels of services.
William Duffy made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to place a General Override question on the
special election ballot in the amount of$ 650,000 for trash fees; Mr. Duffy amended his motion, seconded
by Donald Stewart,to change the dollar figure to $ 552,500; vote failed 2 - 3 (John Leeman, Kevin Foley,
and David Torrisi opposed).
William Duffy made a motion,to place a General Override question on the special election ballot in the
amount of$ 200,000 for police patrol coverage; motion failed to be seconded.
William Duffy made a motion,to place a General Override question on the special election ballot in the
amount of$ 100,000 for the Stevens Memorial Library; motion failed to be seconded.
William Duffy made a motion,to place a General Override question on the special election ballot in the
amount of$ 200,000 for additional support for the School Department; motion failed to be seconded.
General Override Question-John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to place a
referendum question, pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 59, Section 21C, Clause G,to
determine if the town would approve to be assessed an additional $ 1,346,000 in real estate and personal
property taxes for the purposes of
Board of Selectmen Minutes Page 3.
$550,000 Refuse Collection $426,000 Education
$200,000 Police Department $ 70,000 Town Manager Salaries&Legal Expenses
$ 100,000 Stevens Memorial Library
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997; vote approved 4 -1 (David Torrisi).
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by
William Duffy,to adjourn this meeting at 9:45 PM; vote approved 5-0.
Melissa A. Powers, Administrative Secretary David Torrisi, Clerk of the Board